Ring of COmbat 38 Results: Fight by Fight recap (just added)

Saturday, November 19, 2011
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Highlighted by a quartet of championship bouts, the final Ring of Combat event of 2011 went down Saturday night at the Tropicana Resort and Casino.

Local favorite and reigning ROC light heavyweight champion Tom DeBlass headlined ROC 38, a 13-fight bill of UFC veterans and promising prospects, defending his title against Georgian powerlifter David Tkeshelashvili.

The main event started with a bang, as DeBlass put down Tkeshelashvili early with a punch to the guts. The Forked River, N.J., resident pounced but couldn’t finish his Georgian foe due to what DeBlass later cited as Tkeshelashvili’s strength. The three-round title fight moved to the second and, eventually, third stanzas, but the story remained the same throughout. DeBlass demonstrated that he was the better-rounded of the two fighters, earning a unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.

“I feel I dominated the fight, but I felt I really should’ve finished him in the first round,” DeBlass told Sherdog.com after the bout. “I dropped him. I should’ve listened to my corner more, but I’m very thankful that I won the fight. He was a very strong guy. I’ve never fought anyone in my life as strong as him. I saw the videos of him bench-pressing 500 pounds and the hype was real. He was very strong.”

In the first title fight of the evening, lightweight belt-holder Al Iaquinta was unable to fend off incoming Octagon vet Pat Audinwood.

The “Awesomely Awesome” Audinwood took the fight to Iaquinta from the start, getting the better of the striking battle against the Team Serrra Longo product early in the opening frame. After eating a high kick, Iaquinta successfully brought Audinwood to the floor, but soon found himself fighting off a guillotine submission. The choke gave way to an armbar which forced Iaquinta to submit at the 2:06 mark.

“I’ve just been working on stuff that I need to improve on,” Audinwood told Sherdog.com when asked about his first action since exiting the UFC nearly 12 months ago. “Mentally, it didn’t drain on me. I wasn’t worried about having to make him an example or anything like that. I just went out and fought my fight, and just tried to control the pace and learn from my fights in the UFC.”

Two other former Zuffa employees took to the cage in separate title bouts. Ex-UFC fighter Pete Sell put his welterweight belt on the line against French Canadian Nordine Taleb, while WEC vet Deividas Taurosevicius defended against Edson Barboza training partner Marlon Moraes.

Sell’s first title defense was a battle of the champion’s strength against the challenger’s quickness. “Drago” struggled to find much success with his offense in the first round, as Taleb jumped in and out of range at will. In the second, Taleb put a stop to the fight by landing a counter right hand which put Sell down. Taleb jumped on Sell to finish and was waved off by referee Dan Miragliotta at 53 seconds of round two.

Taurosevicius found himself in trouble early against Moraes, forced to stave off a rear-naked choke attempt from the Brazilian challenger. After popping his head loose, the former International Fight League standout transitioned straight into an arm-triangle choke in Moraes’ guard. The tap was elementary after that, and Taurosevicius retained his belt at 2:34 of the opening round.

Promotional vets Drew Puzon and Aung La Nsang clashed in a high-octane middleweight affair. After dropping the opening round on the unofficial Sherdog.com scorecard, the Ricardo Almeida-trained Puzon scored with big takedowns in the second and third periods. Keeping “The Burmese Python” on the mat for the better part of the final 10 minutes was enough to earn Puzon a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

A middleweight bout between Brett Linebarger and Fikret Darzanoff started off with both fighters on fire. The opening round was highlighted by triangle choke and armbar attempts from Linebarger which put Darzanoff on the defensive. The pace died down after the first five minutes, but Loggi International MMA’s Linebarger stayed in control. Takedowns found their home time and again in the second and third rounds, giving Linebarger the unanimous decision with three scores of 30-27.

Jarred Mercado staged a clinic on the ground in his lightweight bout against Jay Isip. The Grudge MMA product took Isip down to start each of the three rounds and kept him there for the duration, earning a unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27).

Mike Prokop and Ryan Vaccaro started the main card action in a 155-pound bout. Each of the three rounds went the same way for Pellegrino MMA’s Vaccaro, who spent the majority of the fight in Prokop’s guard and earned a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

The first finish of the evening came from Frankie Perez in his lightweight bout with Allen Cozze. Perez latched on a guillotine as he was being taken down and Cozze was forced to tap after just 69 seconds.

In a 150-pound catchweight bout, Bellmore Kickboxing Academy’s Tom English earned a two-round unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) over Anthony Facchini of Marlboro, N.J.

The second round made all the difference in a welterweight bout between Chris Wade and Vinicius Agudo. Long Island, N.Y., native Wade outworked Agudo to take a unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18).

Bellmore Kickboxing fighter Andre Harrison won a unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) over Alex Davydov in a lightweight bout.

Pat Defranco of Team Serra Longo opened the evening’s pugilistic festivities with a unanimous decision (20-17, 20-17, 20-17) over Robert Gittens.

Pat DeFranco vs. Robert Gittens

This one was all DeFranco (Serra-Longo). He won the (brief) stand-up battle and scored with takedowns at will after nearly finishing the fight with a Rd. 1 guillotine. On the mat, DeFranco pounded from guard and half-guard and again nearly finished Gittens in the opening round with the rear naked choke. In the second, DeFranco dropped Gittens with a stinging right hand and slammed him a few times. Again DeFranco looked for the RNC, but stayed calm, and pounded away on the ground for the final 3:30 of the fight as Gittens covered up and absorbed some heavy punches. Pat DeFranco takes the unanimous decision.



Alex Davydov vs. Andre Harrison

Harrison (Bellmore Kickboxing) proved to be the harder puncher and the better wrestler, bloodying Davydov in the second with a blistering right hand after fighting off an entire first round’s worth of submission attempts from Davydov. Harrison controlled the positioning all fight, scoring with punches from the half-guard and from back control. Late in the second and final round, Davydov tried to buck the powerful Harrison off, but to no avail. The fight ended with Harrison dropping leather from side control. Andre Harrison earns the judges’ nod.

Vinicius Agudo vs. Chris Wade

Team Link’s Agudo wanted to keep this fight on the floor, but Wade was having none of that early on. Wade sprawled effectively early and slammed Agudo with punches during every takedown attempt. Wade slapped on a guillotine against the fence, dragged Agudo down. Agudo broke free, but soon found himself beneath Wade on the mat. Wade pounded and scored from inside Agudo’s guard, and the punched stopped only when the bell sounded. In the second round, Wade sprawled and peppered a downed Agudo with punches. Wade connected with a big uppercut during a fast scramble and pounded from back control. Agudo went for a kneebar, but Wade broke free, fought from inside the guard, muscled Agudo back to the gound each time he tried to make it back up, and landed heavy hands until the fight ended. The unanimous decision goes to Chris Wade.

Anthony Facchini vs. Tom English

English (Bellmore Kickboxing) scored first with punches, locked up Facchini, and slammed him down hard. English slipped out of a choke, pounded the body and head, and again slammed Facchini, this time from the guard, a la Rampage Jackson. On their feet, Facchini got a takedown and landed in side control. English nearly connected with a big upkick. Facchini passed to half-guard in the final minute, but English swept him. Facchini ended the first round by working for the RNC. In the second, Facchini scored early with a leg kick, but ate a counter right from the hard-hitting English. The two clinched; English landed knees and body punches against the cage. Facchini got the trip, but English landed on top and scored with left hands. English dominated the remainder of the fight from inside the guard, as Facchini tried to keep him from posturing up by holding down his head. Tom English wins the unanimous decision.

Allen Cozze vs. Frankie Perez

Perez landed big kicks early, but Cozze muscled him against the cage and looked for a slam. Cozze lifted and dropped Perez, but once the two hit the mat, Perez slapped on a nasty guillotine, forcing the tap. Frankie Perez wins via guillotine choke in Rd. 1.

Mike Prokop vs. Ryan Vaccaro

Prokop got the early takedown in Rd. 1 and worked some ground-and-pound against the cage. Prokop wanted the triangle, but Vacarro broke free. On their feet, Prokop dumped Vacarro back down a couple of times against the cage wall. Vaccaro answered with hammer fists from top position and ended with round with a good right hand in the center of the cage. In Rd. 2, Vaccaro ducked an early right from Prokop, landed a left hook to the body, scored the takedown, and, from half-guard, defended a guillotine from Prokop. Vaccaro worked some GNP, moved back into Prokop’s guard, and punched the body. In the final frame, Vaccaro threw a high kick, and Prokop answered with a takedown. Vaccaro connected with some hammer fists on the ground, worked for a guillotine, defended a guillotine from Prokop, and landed back in side control. Vacacro finished with some heavy GNP. Ryan Vaccaro takes the unanimous decision.

Jared Mercdo vs. Jerome Isip

Mercado’s top game was the story in this contest. He dominated the entire fight, most of which saw the powerful Mercado in side control. Isip mounted no offense from the bottom and couldn’t seem to free himself from underneath Mercado, whose most damaging blows were knees to the body and left hands to the face and head in Rds. 2 and 3. Jared Mercado wins a one-sided unanimous decision.

Brett Linebarger vs. Fikret Darzanoff

Linebarger’s double-leg takedowns came at will, and Darzanoff had no answer for Linebarger’s GNP from side control and half-guard. It seemed as if Linebarger would end the fight in Rd. 1 with a triangle or an armbar, but Darzanoff defended well and survived. In the second round, Linebarger let loose some damaging kicks to the lead leg of the southpaw Darzanoff, who was taken down and outclassed on the ground for the rest of the fight. Brett Linebarger gets the unanimous decision from all three judges.

Aung La Nsung vs. Drew Puzon

Nsung dropped Puzon with a nasty left hand and bloodied Puzon above the left eye with some GNP from inside the guard.Puzon got back up and pressed Nsung against the cage. A left hand from Nsung dropped Puzon in the center of the cage. Puzon wanted the heel hook, but no. Nsung wound up in Puzon’s guard, but Puzon reversed, mounted, and dropped some punches. Is the second, Puzon rushed in and got top position after a takedown. Puzon mounted Nsung, but was swept. Nsung landed a huge left, moved to side control, and trapped Puzon’s right arm for a bit. Puzon reversed Nsung and got half guard. Nsung attacked from his back and ate left hands and a healthy dose of GNP from Puzon for the remainder of Rd. 2. In Rd. 3, Puzon landed a solid left hand and at a knee from Nsung. Puzon got the singl-leg takedown, but Nsung stood right back up, got a takedown of his own, and looked for a kimura – and then a guillotine – from inside Puzon’s guard. Back on the feet, the lefty Nsung scored with knees, an inside leg kick, and another straight left hand. Nsung connected with a knee and a right hook to Puzon. A Nsung high kick was blocked, but he landed another left and a few more knees before the final bell. Drew Puzon gets the close decision and the hard-fought victory.

Jimmie Rivera vs. Anthony Leone

Leone didn’t pass his medicals, so they’ll try again in December.

Al Iaquinta vs. Patrick “Awesomely Awesome” Audinwood (ROC 155-lb. title fight)

Iaquinta (Serra-Longo) avoided an early high kick and countered with a good overhand right and a follow-up right hook. Iaquinta connected with some big punches following a couple of leg kicks. Audinwood comes right back with a head kick, but Iaquinta secured the takedown right away. Audinwood reversed Iaquinta during a scramble. Iaquinta defended the guillotine attempt from Audinwood, but succumbed to a subsequent armbar attempt. Patrick Audinwood is the new Ring of Combat Lightweight Champion via submission.

Deividas Taurosevicius vs. Marlon Moraes (ROC 145-lb. title fight)

Taurosevicius (Taurus MMA) and Moraes threw some fast, furious punches and kicks early, and it looked like Moraes got the better of the stand-up exchanges. Taurosevicius’ eye was bloodied after the exchange, and Moraes dragged him to the floor. Moraes then worked some GNP from the top, got back control, and slapped on the RNC. But the champ defended, slipped out the back door, seized top position, and submitted Moraes with an impressive arm triangle just seconds later. Deividas Taurosevicius defends his belt and wins via Rd. 1 submission. That was awesome.

Pete “Drago” Sell vs. Nordine Taleb (ROC 170-lb. title fight)

Taleb hit Sell (Serra-Longo) early with a good body kick, stuffed Sell’s takedown attempt, and put some knees into Sell’s ribs against the cage. Taleb scored with an uppercut and knees to Sell’s thighs. After a brief stalemate, the ref moved the action back to the center of the cage, where Taleb ducked a right from Sell and landed a head kick and a hard right hand. Sell looked hurt, but landed a left hand. Taleb countered with a right and again kicked high. Taleb ducked a right hook from Sell and got the takedown. Sell got back up against the cage, and Taleb answered with a body kick and a subsequent short right hand. A knee from Taleb came at the bell to end Rd. 1. In the second round, both men traded kicks early. Taleb’s high kick was mostly blocked. Taleb then kicked low to the lead leg of Sell. A bloodied Sell charged in, but Taleb dropped him with a hard right hand and delivered a few more punches to a dazed Sell, prompting the referee to step in and call a stop to the action. Nordine Taleb wins the Ring of Combat welterweight strap via Rd. 2 KO.

Tom DeBlass vs. Davit Tkeshelashvili (ROC 170-lb. title fight)

Tkeshelashvili came out on fire, swinging wildly, but DeBlass dropped him with a short right hand. Tkeshelashvili controlled Deblass’ wrists from inside his own guard, but DeBlass got off some GNP, spun to back control, and secured a body lock. Tkeshelashvili powered out, grabbed a single, and made it back to his feet. Tkeshelashvili had DeBlass against the fence for a bit before referee Dan Miagliotta halted the action because Tkeshelashvili did not have his mouth guard in. The opening round ended with both men throwing bombs in the center of the cage, Tkeshelashvili kicking at the lead leg of DeBlass, and Deblass landing a knee to the body. In Rd. 2, Tkeshelashvili kicked to the body; DeBlass countered with a right hand and knee before angling away. DeBlass looked for a guillotine, but Tkeshelashvili escaped it. After Tkeshelashvili got top position, DeBlass swept him and fell into half-guard. Back on their feet, the two wrestled against the cage before the referee’s break. DeBlass landed a lead left hook. Tkeshelashvili kicked low and landed a left of his own. DeBlass stuffed a takedown attempt by Tkeshelashvili and had Tkeshelashvili against the fence. Tom landed a 1-2 combination and walked through a leg kick to end the round. In the third and final round, Tkeshelashvili, breathing heavilt, charged in and pressed DeBlass against the cage. Again DeBlass scored with the 1-2. DeBlass sprawled, spun to back control, sunk in both hooks, flattened Tkeshelashvili, dropped some right hands, mounted Tkeshelashvili, and controlled top position as Tkeshelashvili tried to keep him from posturing up and delivering more punches from the top. DeBlass stayed busy with short punches on the ground. Tkeshelashvili got back up eventually and muscled DeBlass against the cage. DeBlass stuffed his head and spun off the fence. With ten seconds left, the referee broke up the action against the fence, and the two battle-worn fighters squared off in the center or the ring before the finishing bell.Tom DeBlass retains his Ring of Combat LHW title via unanimous decision victory.